Magnetic stratigraphy observed in ferromanganese crust

Summary. A sample of ferromanganese crust deposit (SCHW-1D) was cut into two sets of 1 mm slices for palaeomagnetic study. Alternating field and thermal demagnetization, and isothermal remanent magnetization analyses were performed on each thin slice. The results reveal the presence of a stable magnetism and both normal and reversed polarity intervals in the specimens. The observed polarity intervals cannot be confidently correlated with the geomagnetic polarity time-scale of the last 10 Myr due to the polarity overlap inherent in the sampling technique. But the results confirm the slow accretion rate of ferromanganese deposit determined by ¹⁰Be method and suggest potential use of ferromanganese deposits in palaeomagnetic and tectonic studies.     

Bursts of type N in Jupiter's decametric radio spectra

Dynamic spectra of Jupiter's decametric emission often display narrow-band features, referred to as events of type N (Carr et al., 1983). The average bandwidth of these emissions is in the vicinity of 200 kHz, their durations are typically in the decasecond range, and their f-t slopes are small and random. Although the N-bursts can be described as narrow-band L-bursts, it seems that they are realted to S-bursts in their area of occurrence in the Io-B region, the durations of the emission envelopes, and their bandwidths. Possible implications are discussed.     

Photoelectric photometry of the eclipsing binary MM herculis: Preliminary results

The RS CVn-type eclipsing binary star MM Her has been observed in two colours,B andV, in 1979, 1980, and 1983. Several minima times were obtained during the observations and new light elements calculated. The light curves of the system obtained in blue and yellow lights show a significant wave-like distortion which migrates towards the decreasing orbital phases. Its migration period was estimated to be about 3.5 yr. The amplitudes of the wave-like distortion inB andV appear to change each year. The primary minimum of the system is a total eclipse with a duration of 0^d.08.     

Upwelling and river runoff as sources of dissolved nitrous oxide to the Alsea estuary,Oregon

Surface waters of Alsea Bay, an unpolluted estuary on the Oregon coast, were analysed for nitrous oxide, nitrate and nitrite on a weekly or biweekly basis during the summer of 1979. The estuary was found to be a variable source of N₂O to the atmosphere. Large and rapid increases in the concentrations of N₂O, NO₃^?, and NO₂^? occurred at the beginning of the sampling period and are attributed to the influx of nutrient-rich upwelling water into the estuary with the tide. The subsequent decline in concentrations of nitrate, nitrite and nitrous oxide over the remainder of the summer is attributed to a decrease in upwelling intensity, a decline in nitrification rates and to assimilatory nitrate reduction. Measurements of nitrous oxide at six stations along the Alsea River were also made in September and October before and after the onset of the rainy season. Samples taken after flood conditions were established were systematically 50% higher than pre-flood samples. The data suggest that soil runoff results in elevated concentrations of N₂O in rivers.     

Gravitational and magnetic fields of some simple solids of revolution

Summary. Exact spherical harmonic expansions are given for calculating the gravitational and magnetic fields associated with certain uniform solids of revolution. The figures are those made by rotating a conic section about one of its principal axes. The coefficients in the expansions can be computed accurately and efficiently and this approach leads to a very satisfactory method for calculating the fields of geological bodies with approximate circular symmetry about a vertical axis. A complete theory of convergence is given for the expansions. Somewhat unexpectedly, the sphere of convergence is determined by the location of a number of equivalent point or line sources that lie within the body or on its edges.     

Kinetic studies of lead(II) uptake by the seagrass Zostera muelleri in water by radiotracing,atomic absorption spectrometry and electrochemical techniques

Evidence was found that uptake of lead from seawater in both model and natural systems by the leaves of the seagrass Zostera muelleri does occur for live, dead and scraped leaves at all the lead concentrations tested. Positive uptake of lead was measured using the three analytical techniques of radio-tracer, differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry and atomic absorption spectrometry; similar uptake profiles were obtained for each technique. Profiles always showed an initial rapid uptake phase followed by a gradual transition to a plateau phase at which an approximate equilibrium between lead attached to seagrass and free ionic lead in seawater was reached. The presence of active lead uptake processes was indicated in experiments which attempted to remove lead from leaves by a chelating agent.